Tool changing method

ABSTRACT

A method of changing tools on a lathe or other machine tool having multiple cutting tools mounted in a tool turret. A tool changer which practices and carries out the method is operative to remove and replace a tool in the turret while simultaneously another tool in the turret continues the machining cycle so that the cutting operation is not interrupted for a tool change. To this end, a tool transfer slide for transporting tools between the tool turret and a storage matrix is operative to seek, track, &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;lock onto&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and move in synchronization with the tool turret during removal of a tool from the turret and replacement of a new tool.

United States Patent Inventors Robert K. Burroughs Batavia, Ohio; Timothy A. Wakefield. Stillwater, Okla. Applv No. 803,744 Filed Mar. 3, 1969 Patented July 6, I971 Assignee The R. K. LeBond Machine Tool Co.

Cincinnati, Ohio Division of Ser. No. 632.055, Apr. 19, 1967, Pat. No. 3,443,310.

TOOL CHANGING METHOD 13 Claims, 54 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 29/400, 29/200, 29/208, 29/21 1, 29/401, 29/568 Int. Cl 823p 17/00, 823p 7/00, 823p 19/04 Field of Search 29/400,

Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager AtlorneyWood, Herron and Evans ABSTRACT: A method of changing tools on a lathe or other machine tool having multiple cutting tools mounted in a tool turret. A tool changer which practices and carries out the method is operative to remove and replace a tool in the turret while simultaneously another tool in the turret continues the machining cycle so that the cutting operation is not interrupted for a tool change. To this end, a tool transfer slide for transporting tools between the tool turret and a storage matrix is operative to seek, track, lock onto" and move in synchronization with the tool turret during removal of a tool from the turret and replacement of a new tool.

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1. A method of changing tools in a machine tool having a longitudinally extending bed, a workpiece support, and a tool support having a tool receiving station mounted upon the bed for movement along longitudinal and transverse axes of the bed, said tool changing method comprising, storing a plurality of tools in a tool storage matrix which is located in a fixed position relative to the machine tool bed, picking up a first tool at the tool support upon a movable tool transfer slide, moving the slide between the support and the matrix to transport said first tool from the support to the matrix, transferring the first tool from the slide to the matrix and picking up a second tool on the slide at the matrix, moving the slide in a predetermined path of travel along both of said axes away from said matrix until said slide finds said tool support, thereafter holding said slide in a predetermined position relative to said tool support, while said transfer slide is being held in said predetermined position transferring a tool from said slide to the tool receiving station of said support.
 2. The method of claim 1 which further includes the step of indexing a conveyor of said tool storage matrix after transfer of the first tool to the matrix and before pick up of the second cool on the slide at the matrix.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said slide moves away from said matrix along said predetermined path of travel at a fast rate of speed until said slide reaches a first position a predetermined distance from said tool support and thereafter moves at a slow rate of speed until said slide reaches said predetermined position.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said slide moves away from said support and toward said matrix at first a fast rate of travel until said slide reaches a position a predetermined distance from said matrix and thereafter moves toward said matrix at a slow rate of travel.
 5. A noninterruptive method of changing tools in a machine tool of the type having a multiple station tool turret movable mounted upon a stationary bed, the turret being movable alOng at least two mutually perpendicular axes of the machine tool, which method comprises the steps of removing one tool from one station of the tool turret while a second tool continues its machining operation, transporting said one tool on a transfer slide to a tool storage matrix which is fixedly mounted relative to the bed, depositing said one tool in said matrix while the second tool continues its machining operation, picking up a third tool from said matrix, transporting said third tool on the transfer slide toward said tool turret while said second tool continues its machining operation, moving said slide along a predetermined path of travel until the slide finds the tool turret, synchronizing the movements of said slide and third tool with the movements of said tool turret while said turret continues to move relative to said workpiece and said second tool continues its machining operation, and depositing said third tool in said one station of said turret while the movements of said tool and turret remain synchronized and while said second tool continues to move relative to said workpiece and to machine said workpiece.
 6. A method of changing tools in a machine tool having a bed, a workpiece support, a tool turret movable longitudinally and transversely relative to said bed, a tool storage matrix for the storage of a plurality of tools, a tool transfer slide for moving tools between said matrix and said turret, said tool transfer slide being movable longitudinally of said bed independently of movement of said turret, and a tool gripper transversely movably mounted upon said slide, which method comprises the steps of engaging one tool in one station of said turret with said gripper of the tool transfer slide and moving said slide relative to said turret so as to remove said one tool from said one station of the tool turret while a second tool in said turret continues a machining operation by moving relative to a workpiece, transporting said one tool longitudinally and transversely away from said turret while held in said gripper of said transfer slide to a tool storage matrix and depositing said one tool in said matrix, engaging a third tool in said tool storage matrix with said gripper of said transfer slide, moving said slide longitudinally of said bed toward said turret so as to remove said third tool from said matrix, moving said transfer slide along a predetermined path of travel toward said tool turret until said transfer slide finds said tool turret, synchronizing and thereafter tracking the movements of said transfer slide with the movements of said turret and, while said transfer slide continues to track said turret moving said third tool into said one station of said turret as said turret continues to move relative to said workpiece and said second tool continues a machining operation.
 7. The method of changing tools in a machine tool having an indexable tool support and a tool changer for replacing tools in said support, which tool changer comprises a tool storage magazine, a multiple carrier conveyor in the magazine for storing tools and for moving tools to a tool interchange station, and a tool transfer slide having a gripper thereon for transporting tools between said magazine and said tool support, which method comprises the steps of a. indexing said tool support to locate a first tool in said support in a tool replacement station, and a second tool in aid support in a workpiece machining position, b. moving said tool gripper from a withdrawn position to a position of engagement with said first tool in said support, while said second tool is in the process of a machining operation, c. moving said gripper while engaged with said first tool away from said tool support so as to remove said first tool from said support, d. moving said gripper while engaged with said first tool to said tool interchange station of said magazine and inserting said tool into an emptY carrier of said magazine conveyor, e. indexing said magazine conveyor so as to locate a third preselected tool at said interchange station of said magazine, f. engaging said third preselected tool at said interchange station with said gripper of said transfer slide, g. transporting said third tool while engaged by said gripper along a predetermined path of travel until said third tool and gripper find said tool support, h. synchronizing the movement of this third tool and gripper with the movement of said tool support, i. inserting said third tool into said tool support while engaged by said gripper, and while said second tool continues a machining operation, j. disengaging said gripper from said third tool, k. moving said gripper and transfer slide to a withdrawn position relative to said third tool, and l. indexing said tool support to present said third tool in said tool support to a workpiece.
 8. A method of changing tools in a machine tool of the type having a multiple station tool turret movable mounted upon a stationary bed, the turret being movable along at least two mutually perpendicular axes of the machine took, which method comprises the steps of removing one tool from one station of the tool turret, transporting said one tool on a transfer slide to a tool storage matrix which is fixedly mounted relative to the bed, said one tool being transported to the matrix while a second tool is in the process of machining a workpiece, depositing said one tool in said matrix while the second tool continues its machine operation, picking up a third tool from said matrix, transporting said third tool on the transfer slide toward said tool turret while said second tool continues its machining operation moving said slide along a predetermined path of travel toward said tool turret until the slide finds the tool turret, and depositing said third tool in said one station of said turret.
 9. The method of claim 8 which further includes the step of indexing a conveyor of said tool storage matrix after transfer of said one tool to the matrix and before pickup of said third tool at the matrix.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein said transfer slide moves away from said matrix along said predetermined path of travel at a fast rate of speed until said slide reaches a first position a predetermined distance from said tool turret and thereafter moves at a slow rate of speed until said slide reaches a second predetermined position and stops relative to said tool turret.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said slide moves away from said tool turret and towards said matrix at first a fast rate of travel until said slide reaches a position a predetermined distance from said matrix and thereafter moves toward said matrix at a slow rate of travel.
 12. A method of changing tools in a machine tool having a bed, a workpiece support, a tool turret movable longitudinally and transversely relative to said bed, a tool storage matrix for the storage of a plurality of tools, a tool transfer slide for moving tools between said matrix and said turret, said tool transfer slide being movable longitudinally of said bed independently of movement of said turret, and a tool gripper transversely movably mounted upon said slide, which method comprises the steps of engaging a first tool in one station of said turret with said gripper of the tool transfer slide and moving said slide relative to said turret so as to remove said first tool from said one station of the tool turret, transporting said first tool longitudinally and transversely away from said turret while held in said gripper of said transfer slide to a tool storage matrix and depositing said first tool in said matrix, said first tool being transported away from said turret and deposited in said matrix while a second tool in said turret performs a machining operation upon a workpiece, engaging a third tool in said tool storage matrix with saId gripper of said transfer slide, moving said slide longitudinally of said bed toward said turret so as to remove said third tool from said matrix while said second tool continues its machining operation, moving said transfer slide and said third tool along a predetermined path of travel toward said tool turret until said transfer slide finds said tool turret, and moving said third tool into said one station of said turret.
 13. The method of changing tools in a machine tool having an indexable tool support and a tool changer for replacing tools in said support, which tool changer comprises a tool storage magazine fixedly mounted on said machine tool remote from and independently of said tool support, a multiple carrier conveyor in the magazine for storing tools and for moving tools to a tool interchange station in said magazine, and a tool transfer slide having a gripper thereon for transporting tools between said magazine and said tool support, which method comprises the steps of a. indexing said tool support to locate a first tool in said support in a tool replacement station, and a second tool in said support in a workpiece machining position, b. moving said tool gripper from a withdrawn position to a position of engagement with said first tool in said support, c. moving said gripper while engaged with said first tool away from said tool support so as to remove said first tool from said support, d. moving said gripper independently of all movement of said tool support while engaged with said first tool to said tool interchange station of said magazine and inserting said tool into an empty carrier of said magazine conveyor while said second tool in said support performs a machining operation, e. indexing said magazine conveyor so as to locate a third preselected tool at said interchange station of said magazine, f. engaging said third preselected tool at said interchange station with said gripper of said transfer slide, g. transporting said third tool while engaged by said gripper along a predetermined path of travel independently of all movement of said tool support until said third tool and gripper find said tool support, h. inserting said third tool into said tool support while engaged by said gripper, i. disengaging said gripper from said third tool, j. moving said gripper and transfer slide to a withdrawn position relative to said third tool, and k. indexing said tool support to present said third tool in said tool support to a workpiece machining station. 